Le Journal

Employee advocates sounded the alarm Tuesday that wage theft and intimidation against day laborers have increased in the past year as immigration enforcement operations expanded up. As day laborers are often paid with cash and hired on the spot, employee advocates said trust is breaking down, especially for undocumented workers who fear demanding fair pay could put them at risk. Jesus, declined to reveal his identity out of immigration enforcement fears, said he goes to an Orange County Home Depot parking lot every day, hoping for steady work and fair pay.  In December, Jesus said he was hired by a contractor to install tile at a home, with the promise of being paid up to $2,000 for the job.  Instead, after finishing the job in two and a half weeks alone, Jesus said he was paid $900, less than half of what he was promised.  Immigration Jan 19 ‘Living in fear isn't living at all.' Long Beach family self-deport as ICE operations continue Immigration Jan 16 LA's Fashion District resembled ‘war zone' during immigration operation, business owner says Advocates at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center said that complaints like Jesus’ are becoming more common with at least one or two day laborers coming to the organization every week, saying they haven’t gotten paid for their work. “One of the new threats that employers are making in our region is that they tell the day laborers, ‘You better leave and stop asking for your pay, or I am going to report you to the immigration authorities,’” said Alexis Tenorio, workers’ rights director for the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center. Tenorio said the number of reports of wage theft from undocumented workers has increased 40% in the past year amid ongoing immigration enforcement. But he said workers, regardless of immigration status, must report wage theft and receive support by contacting the Department of Industrial Relations.  “They don’t need to know much information. They need to know where you worked, how much you worked, and whether your employer followed the law,” Tenorios said.  But for workers like Jesus, reporting wage theft is a hard step to take as he said he just wants to keep working to support his family. Anyone who has been a victim of wage theft was encouraged to contact the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center or local worker rights groups for help. 

Three core members of the Phillies’ 2008 World Series team were not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when results were announced Tuesday night. Chase Utley fell short of the 75% threshold in his third year of eligibility, receiving 59.1% of the vote. Fellow Phillies greats Jimmy Rollins (25.4%) and Cole Hamels (23.4%) also were not elected. Utley’s total represents a significant jump from previous years and reflects growing appreciation for his résumé — particularly at second base, where his offensive profile is nearly unmatched. He received 28.8% of the vote in 2024 and 39.8% in 2025. Power at the position has long been rare, and Utley’s numbers place him in exclusive company. He is one of four primary second basemen in MLB history to record at least 250 home runs, 700 extra-base hits, 700 walks and an .800 or higher OPS, joining Jeff Kent, Rogers Hornsby and Joe Morgan, all Hall of Famers. Over 16 Major League seasons, Utley hit .275 with 259 home runs, 1,025 RBIs and 1,885 hits, ranking 36th all-time among second basemen. He was also a fixture in October. In 46 postseason games with Philadelphia, Utley hit .262 with 10 home runs and posted a .902 OPS. Rollins, in his fifth year on the ballot, finished with 2,455 career hits, 231 home runs, 470 stolen bases and four Gold Gloves, anchoring the Phillies’ infield for more than a decade. Hamels appeared on the ballot for the first time following a 15-year career that included 163 wins, a 3.43 ERA and 2,560 strikeouts. He was named World Series MVP in 2008 after delivering one of the most dominant postseason runs in franchise history. He is the only first-time candidate from this year’s class who will remain on the ballot next season. Center fielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, both former NL East rivals of the Phillies, were elected to the Hall of Fame. All three former Phillies remain eligible in future voting cycles. For Utley in particular, the jump to nearly 60% places him firmly on an upward trajectory heading into future ballots.

Tackling an issue with huge ramifications for both the economy and the structure of government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday considers President Donald Trump’s attempt to oust Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook. With Trump seeking to exert control over the central bank, which, among other things, sets interest rates, the case has taken on even greater importance after it emerged that the Justice Department is investigating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Congress set up the Federal Reserve to be independent, so it would not be influenced by immediate political concerns in fulfilling its mandate to maintain price stability and low unemployment. Under the Federal Reserve Act, presidents are restricted from removing governors unless it is “for cause,” meaning there is evidence of wrongdoing. Trump has said he wants to fire Cook for cause, over allegations of mortgage fraud made by one of his political appointees, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Cook has denied the allegations, and bank documents obtained by NBC News appear to contradict the fraud claim. The Supreme Court in October refused to allow Trump to fire Cook immediately, instead scheduling oral arguments in the case, suggesting the administration may face an uphill battle over his claim that the decision to remove her cannot be challenged in court. Cook’s lawyers argue she should have notice and a chance to rebut Trump’s stated reasons for firing her before she can be removed. They say Trump’s rationale does not meet the threshold for “for cause” removal. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, says in court papers that Cook has no right to any kind of hearing challenging her firing. It is up to the president alone to decide whether the “for cause” hurdle is met under the powers allocated to him under Section 2 of the Constitution, he said. Powell is expected to attend Wednesday’s argument. Trump has long been critical of the Fed, and Powell in particular, for not doing more to lower interest rates, though he originally appointed Powell to the position in 2017. Trump has not moved to fire Powell, though the Justice Department investigation, related to testimony Powell gave to Congress about refurbishments at the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, could similarly give him a reason. Although Powell’s term as chair ends in May, he could stay as a board member until 2028. President Joe Biden appointed Cook to a term that ends in 2038. Trump administration Jan 20 Jerome Powell to attend Supreme Court arguments in case on Trump's power to fire Fed Gov. Lisa Cook Trump administration Sep 18, 2025 Trump asks the Supreme Court to allow him to fire Fed member Lisa Cook Trump administration Sep 15, 2025 Senate confirms Trump Fed pick; appeals court blocks removal of Lisa Cook The Trump administration’s handling of Cook and Powell has raised alarm among former Fed officials and Trump critics who say the Federal Reserve must maintain its independence to be effective and fear it could be directly controlled by the White House. “We are in an unprecedented moment right now. President Donald Trump is doing everything he can to take over America’s central bank so that it works for him, along with his billionaire friends,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters last week. While Warren has been a critic of Fed policies that she sees as favoring Wall Street and big banks, she added, “I think we can all agree that the Fed works best when its decisions are based on data.” Economists warn that lower rates in the short term to achieve Trump’s political goals could have negative long-term consequences. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly,” former Fed chairs and other former…

Police are conducting an investigation at a property in Millville, New Jersey. However, as of about 6 a.m. on Wednesday, officials had provided few details about the incident that brought a large police presence to a home near the intersection of North 6th and Sassafras streets in Millville, New Jersey overnight. In a brief update on Wednesday morning, officials said the incident began after an individual fled from a motor vehicle stop. But, officials declined to provide further information on the investigation. As of about midnight Tuesday, officials with New Jersey State Police and local police departments were seen at the home and NBC10’s SkyForce 10 captured images of police surrounding the property in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Police cordoned off about three blocks around the property in every direction and officers entered and exited the home for several hours overnight. And, at one point, an investigator was seen bringing out a bag from the home. But, contacted for details, officials did not immediately provide information on the incident nor did they say what they were investigating that brought law enforcement officials from multiple agencies to the property. They have not said if anyone was injured or if anyone has been arrested in this case, either. An investigation was still underway ahead of the sunrise on Wednesday. NBC10 has reached out to the New Jersey State Police, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office as well as other police officials for information into this investigation in an effort to learn more. This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.